Category: PATTERNS IN PULMONARY PATHOPHYSIOLOGY

• Formulating a clinical impression from physical assessment of the lungs and thorax is a complex task. It does not lend itself to “simplification”.
• This chart is not intended to be a comprehensive table of pathophysiology of the lungs and thorax but as a tool to illustrate patterns of pulmonary abnormalities.
• You may use the nonsense word/acronym I.P.A.P.i.c. to recall the categories of assessment.
• Pulmonary abnormalities are often considered:
  Obstructive, Restrictive or Mixed Obstructive & Restrictive
  They can also be considered:
  Parenchymal, Extraparenchymal or Mixed

Click on the table below to enlarge.